A Lesson in Loss: Preservation & Demolition in Washington, D.C.

When walking the streets of Washington, D.C. it is easy to notice the beautiful buildings, majestic monuments, and historical charm of homes. It is also easy to notice the empty lots, new developments, and alterations to the established architectural flow of a city block. As the city developed throughout the decades, new houses, schools, churches, and commercial buildings were constructed that reflected the popular architectural styles and building materials of the time. As trends rose and fell, an emerging sense of local community identity also influenced the development of neighborhoods. Industrialization, commercialization, and urbanization changed the city and its neighborhoods, with some buildings and structures remaining part of the urban landscape, while others faced demolition. Because of this, Washington's built environment is mixed--old, new, and empty.

Before the 1960s, historic preservation laws were rare, with historic preservation ordinances in place in only a handful of American cities (an exception: the Old Georgetown Act was passed in 1950). Federal efforts had been focused on sites of national historical significance, as well as historic documentation through the Historic American Buildings Survey (HABS), established during the New Deal Era. However, even when a building was documented, there was a good chance that it would still be demolished, as cities changed and the federal government promoted urban renewal.

In 1966, Congress passed the National Historic Preservation Act (NHPA). This law encourages the preservation of historically, architecturally, and archaeologically-significant places. This is done through the Section 106 process, which focuses on federal "undertakings," and the law's promotion of state and local preservation efforts. NHPA also established the National Register of Historic Places, which has grown to include almost 100,000 listed places.

Shortly thereafter, in 1971, Don't Tear It Down (DC Preservation League's original name) was founded to save the Old Post Office on Pennsylvania Avenue NW. By the end of the decade, in 1978, DC had passed a local preservation ordinance, the DC Historic Landmark and Historic District Protection Act, which established both the DC Inventory of Historic Sites and a local process for preserving historic landmarks and districts. Despite these protections and processes, demolition is still a possibility.

Hundreds of buildings have been demolished over the years, but thanks to HABS and the work of dedicated scholars, like James M. Goode, images and documentation have preserved the legacy of these buildings--and shown how much there is to lose when buildings are not preserved and protected.

This March, the DC Preservation League will be highlighting the loss of historic buildings in the District using James M. Goode's book Capital Losses: A Cultural History of Washington's Destroyed Buildings as a guide. Mr. Goode was a prolific scholar who wrote multiple books focused on DC's architectural and cultural history, including lost buildings, impressive addresses, and outdoor sculptures. A longtime DCPL member, Mr. Goode passed away on December 12th, 2019 at 80 years old. This month's programs are sponsored by Amy Ballard, a member of DC's Board of Trustees, in memoriam of his life. We hope you follow along with us this month as we discuss demolition, preservation, and the many buildings that are no longer standing.

Questions? Email us through the address [email protected] and we'll get back to you as soon as possible.